Health Agency Launches Social Media Campaign

California Poison Control System (CPCS) has launched a social media campaign to try and educate both English and Spanish-speaking families about poisons through Facebook, Twitter and games. The campaign challenges moms and dads, as well as grandparents, to stay informed about poisons. The game highlights look-alike pills versus candy.

The game makes it easy to see how someone could mistake candy for real pills. CPCS invites people to sign up as Facebook Fans at California Poison Control System and challenge themselves with quizzes about poison plants, batteries, chipped paint and other dangers that lurk in kitchen cabinets. Twitter users can find tips @poisoninfo.

Aside from Twitter updates and Facebook quizzes, the social media campaign includes free text messages. Tips, news and information about poisons are designed to save lives and prevent injury. The CPCS says poison is the second leading cause of childhood injury in the U.S., leading to more than four million poisonings each year.

Texting the word "TIPS" or "PUNTOS" (for Spanish) to 69866 sends a weekly tip to the mobile phone, such as: "Chemicals can burn. Never use toilet bowl cleaners, drain openers, rust removers and oven cleaners when kids are around."